How much is too much when considering BM's gifts?

choxie_77

I have been thinking and thinking and over thinking their gifts!!! I was going to go with jewelry (simple gold hoops and a charm necklace with their respective initials on them), but then I thought about doing spa day (mani-pedis). Then I thought about doing both (doing mani-pedis the day before the wedding and presenting them their jewelry at the rehearsal dinner the same evening). I didn't want their gifts to be cookie cutter and that's when I thought about gift cards - which apparently is a top seller on theknot.com's shop. 3 of my 5 are traveling AND  I have a Man of Honor. All in all, I wanted their gifts to be reflective of their personalities and what they and their friendship mean to me.

My brain is mush. Anyfeedback?

stina93446

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_much-much-considering-bms-gifts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:3ad1849c-85df-47c3-8c60-2e752220eb08Post:8082a880-b391-409f-996b-2bfdcbac4ea7">How much is too much when considering BM's gifts?</a>:
[QUOTE]I have been thinking and thinking and over thinking their gifts!!! I was going to go with jewelry (simple gold hoops and a charm necklace with their respective initials on them), but then I thought about doing spa day (mani-pedis). Then I thought about doing both (doing mani-pedis the day before the wedding and presenting them their jewelry at the rehearsal dinner the same evening). I didn't want their gifts to be cookie cutter and that's when I thought about gift cards - which apparently is a top seller on theknot.com's shop. 3 of my 5 are traveling AND  I have a Man of Honor. All in all, I wanted their gifts to be reflective of their personalities and what they and their friendship mean to me. My brain is mush. Anyfeedback?
Posted by choxie_77[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>Buy for them like it's their birthdays. Take bm out of the equation. Just buy for your friends.</div><div>
</div><div>Buying them jewelry for the wedding or mani pedis the day before the wedding (although your heart is in the right place) is not really viewed as a gift. it's for your wedding. If the jewelry is specific to each girl and you're not requiring them to wear it at the wedding, go ahead. But give them the spa gc for whenever THEY choose to use it. And also, their gifts don't have to be the same. They don't even have to cost the same amount. </div><div>
</div><div>If Jill likes wine, buy her some bottles.</div><div>If Brittany likes to cook, buy her a recipe book.</div><div>If Megan likes music, get her a gc to a music store or some band t shirts.</div>

xoxob

You should just shop for them the way you would shop for their birthday or Christmas presents. They don't all have to get the same thing.

As far as cost, that is just dependant on your overall budget and what you feel comfortable spending.

emilykathleen511

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_much-much-considering-bms-gifts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:3ad1849c-85df-47c3-8c60-2e752220eb08Post:8082a880-b391-409f-996b-2bfdcbac4ea7">How much is too much when considering BM's gifts?</a>:
[QUOTE] <strong>All in all, I wanted their gifts to be reflective of their personalities and what they and their friendship mean to me.</strong> My brain is mush. Anyfeedback?
Posted by choxie_77[/QUOTE]

<div>Re-read the bolded portion again and go with that. Go shopping for their gifts as if it was each person's birthday and think about them as individuals.</div>

aerinpegadrak

I got my bridesmaid gifts on eBay.  They were books that retailed for about $90 each, but I waited patiently until I found them all for $30-35.  DH also got most of his groomsmen gifts at pretty steep discounts.

Think about your shared interests.  I hit on giving them nice copies of Grimm's Fairy Tales because I love to read and am a Disney nut, and each of my closest friends, not coincidentally, also loves to read and is a Disney nut.

As long as the values of each gift are similar, there's really not such a thing as "too much."  I've heard of brides giving attendants iPods.  It depends on your budget, and it's also nice to keep in mind what they're spending.  If they have to shell out hundreds of dollars in attire, hotel, travel, pre-parties, etc, a $10 gift card is pretty cold.

swim1011

Our budget is tight, so I made my BMs each a bracelet with different color swarovski crystals to fit their personalities/ fave colors (not to be worn for the wedding!), and I'm finishing up mini photo albums with pics of me and each BM together from over the years.  If I had a bigger budget, i would definitely spend more money, but I know each one would love these things, and the albums help make it personal.  Just pick something you konw they would love!